Drinking Buddies (Bleach): Chapter 1

(I do not own the characters of Bleach.  This is a complete, non-profit, fan work.

please note: yes, I've used all English terms in here but Ikkaku's reference to Kuchiki's kenseikan as a 'noodle' isn't because I don't know it but because Ikkaku's not being very serious at that moment.  Please see summary for more info on my "western" terms, thanks)

 

Ikkaku had to be out of his mind, what in the hell was he thinking?  Did he have a death wish?  Well, maybe but not like this!

Despite that.  He was bored and lonely.  Not only was Yumi stuck in the world of the living so was Renji, Izuru and Shuhei!  Who the hell was he supposed to drink with?  After the first night with Captain, and being told he was a panty-waist since he passed out after the fiftth bottle, he decided he needed to do something else.

The bald soul reaper contemplated going to eight for all of about two minutes.  Despite how he knew the stuff that Captain Kyoraku got was smooth, the thought of ducking crap thrown by that lieutenant of his made him cringe.

Captain Ukitake was nice but not exactly a drinker.

Matsumoto?  Nope, she was in the world of the living too.  What were they having a party down there?

Iba maybe but then they had to fight over who was getting the sake.  No, that wasn't a bad thing but that bum had a habit of getting lost on the way back when his sorry as lost and drinking half the bottle before returning.

Captain Kurotsuchi? Uh, next!

So after a good hour wasted contemplating who to drink with he ended up on the doorstep of something far too big to be considered a house.

You might even say it was a mansion or estate.

You know, like one belonging to a noble family.

Ikkaku gave a firm knock then stood there waiting.  "Well, if he kills me at least it'll probably be quick," he whispered to himself.

He heard someone check who it was then a minute later the door opened and Byakuya Kuchiki was staring at Madarame.

'Okay, hadn't expected him to open the door himself,' Ikkaku thought to himself as he waited to be addressed.

"Ikkaku," Kuchiki said as way of wanting him to state his business and quickly.

"Good evening, Captain Kuchiki," Ikkaku grinned.  He was very much having an all or nothing kind of night.

"If you have business please state it," Byakuya said though he had to admit if it wasn't work he was damn curious as to why Renji's drinking buddy was on his door step.

"Fine," Ikkaku's grin got a little less stable and he held up two bottles of good tasting but very knock-you-on-your-ass sake, "have a drink with me?"

One of those rare moments of surprise hit Byakuya's face, "I beg your pardon?"

"Look," Ikkaku sighed, "I'm bored as hell with everyone off on missions and you've got to be too since you've not seen Renji in weeks.  Come on, have a drink with me and we can not be so godawful bored for half an hour."

Byakuya stood there so long Ikkaku was starting to wonder where Senbonzakura was but then the noble stepped back.

Not about to let his shock get the better of him, Ikkaku dealt with his sandles as he quickly stepped inside then followed the rapidly retreating captain.

Ikkaku noticed that despite the fact the man was still wearing his hair noodle and scarf Kuchiki looked like he had changed for the night.  He was in a silver yukata with what he first thought were pink accents but then realized they were infact red.

Kuchiki led them into a mostly empty room then knelt on a cushion and motioned for where Ikkaku could join him.  Ikkaku did so then set the bottles down.  Before anything could be asked about cups two were set on the very small table between them.

It was far too late to think on if this was a good idea or not so Ikkaku grabbed one of the bottles and poured, Byakuya's first of course.  He watched the captain take a sip and was both impressed and a touch dissapointed he didn't so much as need to clear his throat.

Ikkaku grinned and grabbed his own dish and sipped his refilling them when empty.

Neither spoke and the process of sipping and pouring got them through the first bottle rather quickly.

Ikkaku was thinking he was going to be bored all night again until Byakuya said something.

"Have you heard any word from Renji?" Kuchiki asked while looking into his cup.

"Renji?" Ikkaku asked then, "no, not really.  Yumi said he was mostly stuck babysitting that Kurosaki kid."

Byakuya gripped his cup a tiny bit tighter, "I see."

"Hadn't Renji been reporting in?" Ikkaku asked.

"Yes," Byakuya finished his cup then set it down to be refilled, which Ikkaku did promptly, "but that is all he has done."

"Were ya expecting more?" Ikkaku ventured.

"Not expected, no," Kuchiki took a sip.

Ikkaku was noticing that the captain had drunken way more than him.  "But was hoping?" he guessed.

Kuchiki gave the barest of nods.

Ikkaku blinked.  Holy crap!  Kuchiki missed Renji?  He wondered if the red head knew.

Risking life and limb, Ikkaku checked something else, "you think he's spending too much time with Ichigo?"

There was no hiding the anger Byakuya felt at that statement.

Without much hesitation Ikkaku did possibly the last thing in his life, he laughed.

"I fail to see what is amusing, Ikkaku," Byakuya glared.

It had zip effect on Ikkaku who had figured he was dead when he walked in the door, why stop now?  "You're jealous, Captain Kuchiki," the bald one stated.

"And how did you come to that conclusion?" Byakuya was getting more angry but didn't deny it.

Ikkaku cleared his throat and got a hold of himself, okay, guess the shit was hitting him harder than he thought.  

"Because, Renji does missions all the time and if he were to contact you for anything other than a report you would be upset with him for wasting time but now that he's spending so much time with Kurosaki, you're all bugged he hasn't so much asked how you're doing, right?"  Ikkaku said without sounding condesending.  Hell if Yumi were gone that long and didn't say nothing to him Ikkaku would be jealous as hell.

For all of his up bringing Kuchiki had no response to that.

Ikkaku was starting to think this really was a bad idea, not so much because he thought he was going to get in trouble but because it looked like no word from Renji was really bothering the sixth's captain.

"Hey," Ikkaku turned to face the man more, "Renji's got no interest in that kid.  Sure he wants to beat the crap out of him at some point but it's nothing more than that.  Hell, the orange head isn't even old enough to drink with yet."

"You raise valid points," Kuchiki whispered.  His way of saying that actually made him feel better.

Ikkaku grinned and poured out the last of the sake, "I'm sure Renji will be done soon."

Byakuya nodded then finished his last drink.  He set his cup down then stood to show Ikkaku out.

Ikkaku stood and followed.  As he was finally leaving the mansion he turned back to Byakuya, "thanks Captain, made for one less boring night."

"Thank you, Ikkaku," Byakuya said before closing the door.  His voice the tiniest bit off to show he wasn't thanking the man for the drinks.

With a grin Ikkaku got himself home and passed out happily on Yumi's side of the bed.